FEARS over the mental health of Liam Jurrah have surfaced after the former Melbourne forward was charged with drink-driving on Wednesday.

Jurrah, a P-plater, allegedly blew 0.27, almost five times the legal limit, after he was tested at a house in Adelaide's north.

Police were already at the house dealing with another incident when Jurrah, 24, arrived. Police suspected he was under the influence of alcohol and he was breath-tested. He was charged and his licence was automatically disqualified.

There was talk within the football industry on Wednesday that Jurrah was struggling to deal with his personal issues.

Advertisement

It's understood at least two of his former Melbourne teammates are worried about him.

Jurrah, who left the Demons at the end of last season, is due to play with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL this year, having been overlooked by the Power in last year's AFL national draft.

A Power spokesman said the club was gathering as much information as it could before commenting.

Jurrah is already facing court over assault charges that relate to a fight at the Little Sisters Town Camp in Alice Springs last March.

Jurrah trained with Port Adelaide in the lead-up to last year's national draft but was overlooked by the club because of fitness and off-field issues.

He was offered a spot with the SANFL Magpies, with a view to possibly returning to the AFL in 2014. But he has failed to attend pre-season training with the Magpies because of family issues and was away from Adelaide for several weeks. He has also battled a leg infection.

The AFL Players Association and the Power had vowed to help him through the legal troubles. Power football manager Peter Rohde said before Christmas his club would do all it could to help Jurrah.

''We believe these measures will enable Liam to have the best possible opportunity to find his way back into the AFL system in great physical condition, with proven form at SANFL level and with those non-football matters fully dealt with,'' he said.

''All going well, that could be through any club in the AFL, but we would love it to be with Port Adelaide if everything works out.''